Special Note: My website [www.penandprint.com] will soon be going to internet heaven. It’s been a good run, but it’s no longer needed for contact with Scottish, Welsh, and Irish golf courses. Be sure you bookmark this blog www.penandprint.blogspot.com so that you can easily connect to Have Pen and Camera, Will Travel when I write new posts. And thanks for your comments.
My Favorite Rides
On Facebook a few days ago there was a question asked—one of those share your experience posts. The question was, “What is the favorite car you’ve owned?” Good question, but why not share a more complete answer on my Blog. So, here it is, a discussion of the favorite autos (and trucks) that I’ve owned.
The first car I ever owned was a tank. A sick green 1950 Buick automatic with a dynaflow transmission (you stepped on the gas, waited three seconds, and then the tank started to move). Not a favorite, but a starting point for a list of favorites. Two vehicles need special mention here.
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| Bookings HS Speech Team Van-boot Sale |
The first was a 1974 VW bus (aka, a micro bus) which we used as a speech team carrier in Brookings where I started a team in 1980 and the district didn’t have transportation we could use. The blue van allowed me to take six students to a tournament. The 1600cc engine developed 67 horse power and got the fully loaded van up the coastal hills at 35mph. At the same time we had the second car of special mention,
a 1976 yellow Dodge Colt coupe with 90 hp. Anne could carry three more students to tournaments. Both of these vehicles are remembered fondly as reliable friends who helped build my career as a speech coach.
We sold the blue bus our last year in Brookings (the school district finally had a minivan we could use) and bought our first VW GTI, a 1984 special edition Rabbit with 90 hp, suped-up suspension, special seats, and five speed stick transmission—
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| 1984 GTI in Autocross in Medford |
it was our first pocket rocket. The gray with red stripes racer led to a lifetime of small, hot cars raced in auto-crosses and hillclimbs throughout the northwest. Very often we had his and her’s VW Golf GTIs in our parking area in Canby.
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| 16 Valve GTI at Mary's Peak Hillclimb |
We had new Golf GTIs in 1988 and 1994 and our only non-GTI when we bought a 2000 4-door. Our last VW GTI I’ll tell more about later in the post.
Many or most of you know we raised and raced Siberian Husky sled dogs for many years. That meant we had trucks, many of which were not our favorites. I particularly remember a Chevy LUV mini pick up that we jacked up and converted to 4-wheel drive. With the dog’s boxes full it was so underpowered that besides fearing it would tip over at the slightest corner, we were again stuck going 35 mph over every mountain pass. For a while we did have an old 1952 International pick up that I drove around town when I taught special education at the Oregon State Hospital in the 1970s. The film company for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” paid me $25 to park in my usual spot at the hospital so a period car would appear in the Supt’s window. We’ve never been able to find it in the movie (probably ended up on the cutting room floor), but Anne and I got a nice dinner out of it. Our favorite truck, though, was our last one.
In 2019 we bought a very low mileage Ford F150 to tow a small Little Guy Mini travel trailer. The truck was fun to drive and the combination of truck and trailer was great.
We had to give the pair up because of my advancing Parkinson’s symptoms, but the truck still stands out from all the others we owned.
This brings me to our current favorite autos, Subarus. We bought our first Subaru Outback Special LL Bean edition in 2003 and fell in love with the cars.
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| 2012 Outback in Mitchell, OR |
They are comfortable to drive, small and yet roomy, have plenty of power, and are very reliable. We are now on our fourth Outback (2003, 2012, 2016, and 2018).
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| 2016 Outback |
We’ve bought new ones as equipment and features have changed, not because of wear or mechanical problems. Anne’s favorite is the 2018 Outback 3.6R.
Our fifth Subaru is my favorite. We traded in the 2017 F150 for a 2021 Forester Sport equipped for off road with special tires, suspension, and skid plates.
It’s an easy and fun car to drive in town or longer trips. And while it’s the favorite I drive now, it is not the most favorite.
My favorite of all the vehicles we’ve owned is a 2007 VW Fahrenheit GTI #914/1200. The special Lamborghini Orange 2.0L 200 hp with six speed automated manual transmission and European tuned sports suspension was a special car.
Fast, agile, head-turning, this GTI was a dream to drive, although we worked hard keeping the mileage low (having good Outbacks for long trips made that easier). I finally gave up the Fahrenheit GTI when we needed a truck to pull the trailer. It was a terribly hard decision, but the right one—trading one toy for another.
At this time in our lives I can’t see us needing another car, so my list probably won’t change. It’s now time for me to ask…
What is your favorite car?
